News / Local
Moyo threatens to sue ZBC for $500,000
04 Jul 2013 at 08:39hrs | Views
MDC-T Bulawayo chairman Gorden Moyo has threatened to sue ZBC for $500 000 over reports alleging that he attended a Zanu-PF rally and was planning to defect to that party.
Moyo, represented by Phulu Ncube Legal Practitioners, yesterday wrote to Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings chief executive officer Happison Muchechetere demanding a retraction of the stories within seven days failure to which he would proceed with the lawsuit.
The minister who is eyeing the Makokoba House of Assembly seat, at the weekend accused ZBC of spearheading a smear campaign against him after it reported he was contemplating joining Zanu-PF.
The Parastatals and State Enterprises minister's lawyers also wrote to the Zimbabwe Media Commission chairperson Godfrey Majonga asking him to deal with ZBC for "intentionally publishing false information in a manner that is injurious to their client's reputation, rights and freedom."
In a letter addressed to Muchechetere, the lawyers said on June 31, ZBC ran a story on ZTV and radio stations, "which depicted our client in the company of Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube, in Makokoba constituency.
"The story stated that our client was drumming up support for Dube, a Zanu-PF candidate and competitor at the said occasion and that our client was contemplating joining Zanu-PF," the lawyers said.
"This story has been repeated in a number of print and Internet-based publications.
"The above statements are not true and are misleading to the public regarding Honourable Gorden Moyo, who is a candidate representing the MDC-T in the Makokoba constituency."
The lawyers said these statements came a day after their client had been accepted as a candidate by the nomination court.
"At no time did honourable Gorden Moyo, drum up support for Rtd Colonel Tshinga Dube at the said event and neither did he indicate any intention to join Zanu-PF at any stage.
"There was no attempt to obtain our client's comment about the issue."
The lawyers demanded a retraction and an "unequivocal" apology to Moyo.
"In the event that the above demands are not met within seven days of this letter, our client shall proceed to issue summons for defamation in the amount of $500 000 against the editors of the news bulletins and your company," the lawyers said.
Moyo, represented by Phulu Ncube Legal Practitioners, yesterday wrote to Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings chief executive officer Happison Muchechetere demanding a retraction of the stories within seven days failure to which he would proceed with the lawsuit.
The minister who is eyeing the Makokoba House of Assembly seat, at the weekend accused ZBC of spearheading a smear campaign against him after it reported he was contemplating joining Zanu-PF.
The Parastatals and State Enterprises minister's lawyers also wrote to the Zimbabwe Media Commission chairperson Godfrey Majonga asking him to deal with ZBC for "intentionally publishing false information in a manner that is injurious to their client's reputation, rights and freedom."
In a letter addressed to Muchechetere, the lawyers said on June 31, ZBC ran a story on ZTV and radio stations, "which depicted our client in the company of Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube, in Makokoba constituency.
"The story stated that our client was drumming up support for Dube, a Zanu-PF candidate and competitor at the said occasion and that our client was contemplating joining Zanu-PF," the lawyers said.
"The above statements are not true and are misleading to the public regarding Honourable Gorden Moyo, who is a candidate representing the MDC-T in the Makokoba constituency."
The lawyers said these statements came a day after their client had been accepted as a candidate by the nomination court.
"At no time did honourable Gorden Moyo, drum up support for Rtd Colonel Tshinga Dube at the said event and neither did he indicate any intention to join Zanu-PF at any stage.
"There was no attempt to obtain our client's comment about the issue."
The lawyers demanded a retraction and an "unequivocal" apology to Moyo.
"In the event that the above demands are not met within seven days of this letter, our client shall proceed to issue summons for defamation in the amount of $500 000 against the editors of the news bulletins and your company," the lawyers said.
Source - southerneye
